Range finder for cameras



Sept. 21, 1954 BQLSEY RANGE FINDER FOR CAMERAS Filed Oct. 5, 1948 3sheats sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY v

J. BOLSEY RANGE FINDER FOR CAMERAS Sept. 21, 1954 Filed Oct. 5, 1948 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Sept. 21, 1954 J. BOLSEY 2,689,509

RANGE FINDER FOR CAMERAS Filed Oct. 5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

Patented Sept. 21, 1954 UNITED STAT ES PAT ENT aO F'FI CE RANGE FINDERFOR CAMERAS Jacques fBolsey, New York, N. Y..

Application flctober 5, 1948, Ser ialNo. 52,930

;My',.present invention relates to .range finders.

This applicationis a continuation-impart of U. S. patent applicationSerial Number 779,301, filed Getober 11, 1947, and entitled.Photographic Cameras, which matured into Patent Number 2,508,095.

It is -an object of my present invention to provide a :range ,finderwhich is extremely simple in construction, but nevertheless, ,reliableinoperation.

,It is ;also an .object of ,my present invention to provide a rangefinder ,unit Whichcan be easily mounted on a camera of any desired type,and removed therefrom for .repairs :or replacement, if necessary, .in.an extremely easy .rnanner.

With the above objects in view, my present .invention ,mainly consistsof a range finder fora camera provided with a slidable camera lenscomprising in combination a base member, .a first lever, first:pivotingmeans turnably pivoting the first lever to the base member,operating means movable by sliding of the camera lens in direction ofits optical axis .and adapted to engage the first lever .so as to turnit about the first pivoting means, a second lever, second pivoting meanspivoting the second lever to ,the'base member in such a manner that thesecond lever engages the first lever and is turned by the same about thesecond pivoting means when the first lever is turnedby the operatingmeansa'bout the first pivoting means, a turnable mirror mounted on thesecond lever turnably together with the same, and a stationaryvmirrorlmounted on .the .base member spaced ,from the turnable mirrorsubstantially parallel to the same.

A particularly preferred range finder arrangement according to mypresent invention is used in combination with a camera having a camerabody, and a slidable camera lens and comprising .in combination a baseplate, screw and slot means securing thebase plate to the camera bodyadjustably in the plane of the base plate, a ,dou- :blearmed flat lever,first pivoting means pivoting'jthe double armed fiat lever to the'baseplate turnably in a plane parallel to the base plateoperatingmeansmovableby sliding of the slidable camera lens in directionof its opticalaxis .and adapted to engage onelever arm of the dou-"armed flat lever, second pivoting means pivoting the single armed flatlever atone end to the base plate turnablyin a planeparallel-to the-basem'late in such ,a manner that the single armed fiat lever engages withits other end the other lever arm of the double armedflat lever, and isturned ,by the same in a plane parallel to the :base'plate about thesecond pivotingmeans when the double ,armed flat lever is turned by saidoperating means ,about the first pivoting means a;plane parallel ,tothebase plate, spring means mounted on the :base ,plate and engaging thesingle armed-fiat lever ,so .as to permanentlyforce the single armedfiat lever, and by means of the same also the double armed flat :leverto turn .againstthe-ir direction of turning caused by the operatingmeans, a turnable mirror mounted on thesingle armed .flat lever normalto the plane .of the same in sucha vmanner that the axis of turningo'fthe second pivoting means is located in the surface planeof the turnablemirror and astationary mirror mounted on the base plate normal the same,spaced from the turnable mirror and substantially parallel to the same,and

screwand slot means combined withat least one of the flat leversioradjusting the shape of the respective flat lever in the plane of thesame.

The novel features which I consider as characteristic for my inventionare set forth in particular in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as 'to its construction and its method of'operationgtogether with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in-'whi'ch:

Fig. '1 is a rear view of my new..eamera with the cover removed seendirection of arrow 1 of "Figure 2;

Fig. 2 is a top view of thecamera-show-n in Figure '1, with the topmember of the camera removed, seen indirection-ofarrow 2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the camera shown in Figures 1 and '2,along line '3-3 of Figure2; I

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevational section throug'hthe-camera shown inFigures 1 to 3,along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

"Fig. '5 is a fragmentary elevational section through the transportingand counter mechanismiof ,Lthe 'camera'shownin Figures 1 to :4, a'longImeS-"E of Figure '2;

Y'Fig'. i6 'is a longitudinal plane section through the camera shown inFigures .1 to 4,, alongline 13-16 of .Figure ,1 and Fig. '7 is ,apartial .top view of modified flat levers forming ,part of the rangefinder accord- ,ing to my z resent invention, and provided with "55shape adjusting-means.

My new camera contains as main elements a camera body H), a camera topH, and a detachable camera cover l2.

The camera body It) is provided with a central cylindrical compartment13 into which the lens barrel |4 fits, carrying in usual manner the lensl5, and the shutter mechanism Hi.

This camera body I9 is provided, as clearly shown in Figure 2, at itstop, with a compartment l1 surrounded by the flat rim I8.

Furthermore, the camera body In is provided along its two lateralvertically extending edges 23 with U-shaped grooves 24, as shown inFigures 1 and. 2.

Finally, the camera body is also provided along its bottom edge 25 witha longitudinal projection 26 as shown in Figure 3. v

The top member mentioned above contains also a compartment I9 formingtogether with the compartment IT in the camera body In a large combinedcompartment. Furthermore, the top member of the camera is provided alongits front edge with a flat rim 29 having the same shape as the frontportion of rim l8 andadapted to fit the same. Along the rear edge of thetop member II a U-shaped groove 2| is provided in the rim 22 of thesame; this rim 22 is, as clearly shown in Figure 3, arranged so as toproject rearwardly beyond the rear edge of rim l8 of the camerabody Ill.

The camera cover I2 is composed of a rear cover portion 21 and a bottomcover portion 28. The rear cover portion 21 is provided along its topedge with a longitudinal projection 29 adapted to fit into thecorresponding U-shaped groove 2| of the top member I, as clearly shownin Figure 3. Furthermore, the rear cover portion 21 of the cover memberH is provided along its lateral vertically extending edges with twolongitudinal projections 30 adapted to fit into the correspondingU-shaped grooves 24 provided along the lateral edges 23 of the camerabody H), as clearly shown in Figure 2.

Finally, the bottom portion 28 of the cover I2 is provided along itsfront edge 3| with a U-shaped groove 32 into which fits the longitudinalprojection 26 arranged along the bottom edge 25 of the camera body H],as clearly shown in Figure 3.

The camera cover |2 is secured to the camera in proper operativeposition covering the rear and bottom of the camera body |9 by means ofa turnable closure mechanism 33 of conventional type, whenever desired.

The camerabody itself is provided not only with the cylindricalcompartment l3, but also with two film compartments 34 and 35.Compartment 34 contains the film spool 36 from which the film strip 31is unwound and compartment ,35 contains the take-up spool 38, upon whichthe film strip 31 is wound during its transportation.

During such film transportation, the film strip passes over the guidingroller 39, between the rear exposure face 40 of the camera body I9, andthe pressure plate 4| of conventional design mounted on the camera coverI2, and engages before reaching the take-up spool 38 the film sprocket42, as clearly shown in Figure 6.

This film sprocket 42 is carried by the shaft 43 freely rotatablymounted as shown in Figures 1 and 5, in openings provided in thehorizontal partition wall 41 and the bottom wall 55 of the camera bodyl0. As shown in Figure 5, shaft 43 the camera body I0.

This spring 5|! is provided with a projecting portion 52 engaging theannular face 53 formed on shaft 54. This shaft 54 is mounted freelyturnably and slidably in axial direction in corresponding openingsprovided in the horizontal partition wall 41 and bottom wall 55 of thecamera body HI, and carries the take-up spool 56. This take-up spool 56is provided with longitudinal cut-outs 51 into which projects the pin'58secured to shaft 54. This pin 58 makes it possible to turn the take-upspool 56 by turning shaft 54, independently of sliding movement of suchshaft in axial direction.

Shaft 54 extends, as clearly shown inFigure 5, at its upper end througha corresponding opening in the top member II and is provided at its topwith an operating film transporting knob 59. It is evident that bypulling knob 59 in direction of arrow 60 it is possible to bend theblocking spring 50 upwards so as to move its end face 49 out of the pathof the stopping pin 48.

shaft 54 carries also a counter pinion 6| constructed so as to have onegear tooth less than pinion 45. This pinion 6| is freely turnably andslidably mounted on shaft 54, and is in no way connected with the sameso as to engage permanently, i. e. also during sliding of the shaft, thepinion 45 and to be turned by the same.

Finally, the transporting and counter-mechanism of my camera includesalso a counter-disc 62 freely turnably carried by shaft 54, butconnected by means of a friction coupling 63 of conventional design withthe pinion 53 so as to turn together with the latter. Thiscounter-disc'62 is provided with an indicating arrow 64 cooperating witha scale 65 arranged on the upper face of top member around thecounter-disc 62 and adapted to indicate the number of exposed pictures.V

My new combined film transporting and counting mechanism operates asfollows:

The film strip 31 is inserted as shown in Figure 6, engaging sprocket42. If it is desired to transport the film strip 31, it is onlynecessary to turn knob 59 so as to pull the film in direction of arrow66. Movement of the film strip 31 in direction of arrow 66-will resultin turning of sprocket 42 in direction of arrow 61 which, in turn, willresult in turning of the pinion 45, shaft 46, and stopping pin 48 indirection of arrow 68. During turning in direction of arrow 68, thestopping pin 48 will abut against the end face 49 of spring 50, andthereby stop further turning of pinion 45, pinion 44, and sprocket 42,thus preventing further transportation of the film strip 31.

In this position the film strip 31 is ready for taking a picture. Aftertaking of the picture, it is necessary to enable further transportationof the film. This is done by pulling knob 59 in direction of arrow 60.This will result in lifting of spring 50 and disengagement of the endface 4 of the same, and the stopping pin 48.

During such disengagement, the stopping pin R will =-automaticall-y tu-m'a small distance direction of arrow 68, thereby moving zunder or beyondthe-endface deef the'spring fifl. "This automatic turning movement :ofthe stopping pin is, as I have found,=due--to'the fact that thefilmstripbetween the take-up spool 38 and sprocket 42 is under a slight tensionwhile sprocket 42 is prevented -'from turning. The momen t the stoppingpin #8 is released, the film strip 3-! under .tens'ion turnsthe sprocketn which results in turning or the pin under or beyond '-'-the :end face49 of springeifl.

l ne knob '59 is then released, and is forced by spring -50 to returninto its original position. in the meantime, as set iorth above, thestopping pin 48 has -moved under-or beyondtheend face Mofspringifl, andis able to free'ly turn indirec- *tion of arrow 68 until it hits againstthe end face $8 of the spring 511 -Such tur-ningof pin 18 isaccomplished by turning knob 59 which will, 01' eourse, also'result i-nturningef the take-up spool 51, and transportation of a predeterminedlength of film s'trip intoexposure position.

Thus, in order to'transport consecutive film por- "tions ofpredetermined lengths, it '-is only necessaryeach time to turn knob 59euntil such turning blocked, then to pull it in directionof arrow 60,release it and then turn itagain.

'The counter mechanism connected with the above described transportation=mec'hanism automatioally indicates the number --of film portions whichhave been transported: This is due to the fact that during each filmtransporting cycle the pinion turns 360 resulting in turning of pinion 6about an angle which is slightly smaller than a complete circle. Byproperly arranging the lines of scale 65, it is possible "to obtain bymeans of the indicating arrow *64 proper indication of the number oftransported film portions.

Thefrictioneou-pling 63 mentioned above which connects the pinion -61with indicating disc 15-2 makes it possible to turn the indicating disc62 back into its initial position at the start of *operations, i. e.after insertion of a new -fil-m strip when the same is ready for takingthe first picture.

in order to facilitate insertion of the film strip 81 and "its properand easy attachment to the take-up spool "54, "I provide on th outersurface ofthis-spool-asprocket pin t9 arrangedso as to be adapted toengage one'of thesprocket holes of the film strip. Furthermora'I secureto the takeup spool 54 a substantially cylindrical spring member 10serving for guiding the film. I have found that if the end of the filmstrip is pushed under this spring member so as to be temporarily heldbythe sama andthetake-up spool is turned, the pin -69 will enter one of"the sprocket holes ofthefilm and firmlyjho'ld the film strip.

Iwish tomention that-in orderto enableuninterrupted .rewinding of thefilm, i. .e transporta- "tion of thefilm from the take-:up spool '38upon the film spool 36 by turning knob H, the spring is bent soas not toblock continuous turning of pin 48 when the same is turned againstdirection of arrow .63. .This jpurposeis attained-by providing .asloping extension .H --on spring 5a, the end of which reaches under thepath of pin 4'B.so thatthe entire spring together with the .end facei4'9 thereof is depressed and sliding'under the pin '88 without blockingthe same when thepin is turned against direction of arrow 68 by rewind-"111g o'f thefilm-strip asset'forth above.

My camera-is equipped witha range finder .arrangement of entirely newtype. This range finder arrangement is :a separate unit, and ii'Smoun'ted on a'base plate 12. This basezplate Miin turn, is mounted onthe bottom of lthe compartment l formed within the top surface :of :thecamera body 10. In order to enable adjustment of the entire rangefindenl provide adjusting pins T3 forming :part of the camera body andsliding in longitudinal slotsld provided in the base plate 12. Thescrews 7-4 serve for securing the base plate 12 to the camera inadjusted position. On this base plate 72, 1 pivot by means :of the Pivot15 the fiat lever "16 carrying the turna'ble range finder mirror 11.This 'lever 16 is permanently forced to turn in direction of arrow 18 bythe leaf spring 1 9 secured by means of screw to the base plate 12,:andabutting against the upwardly bent portion 8 l oflever 16.

Furthermore, I mount the operating lever '82 by means of the pivot '83on thebase-plate 1-2. This operating lever 82 engages by means of itsdownwardly bent portion 84 the pin -85 mounted on the lens barrel l4 soas "to be adapted to be turned about pivot 83 by movement of 'this pin.At its other end 35, the operating lever 82 contacts the end of thelever 16, and turns the same so asto adjust the position of mirror Tl.

My new range finder unit'also includes a stationary top plate 8l'he1d'by the space plate -88 "at a slight distance from the base plate12 so as to serve as a guide for the two levers l6 and "82. This topplate 6! also carries the stationary mirror 88.

My new range finder constructed and arranged as described above,consists of very-few parts, is extremelysimple to install and adjust,and isvery reliable in operation.

In order to enable adjustment of the-shape of the levers l6 and82 Imight provide, if desirable, adjusting means of the type shown "inFigure '7 As shown in this figure, the lever '16 isprovided near its end'I'ili] with a'flat projection I01 having aslot 02. A-conical screw holeI03 is provided in this flat projection ID! crossing slot I02.

For adjusting purposes, a screw I04 is screwed into the conical screwhole 103. By screwing the screw I04 to a greater or smaller extentinto-the conical screw hole H13, it is possible to bendthie end portion103 of lever I6 relative to the main part of the lever in direction ofarrow I05,'and thereby to adjust the operative point of the lever 16which engages the lever 82;

Similarly, I have shown a part of lever -82 provideo. with adjustingmeans operating in the same manner as the adjusting means shown inFigure 5?. In this figure, the end :portion of lever :82 is designatedwith reference :numeral 106 fthe flat projection with reference :numeral10., the slot with reference numeral I 08., :the conicallzscrew threadedhole with reference numeral 105, the adjusting screw with referencenumeral 1H], and the arrow indicating the directionof adjustment causedby this :screw with referencen-umeral ilsl'l.

My new camera is also equipped with aneutirely new type 10f :lens mountandmeans for 0p- =erating the range finder:

The lens l5 together with the shutter mechanism .16 is carried by thelens barrel 1 4 which is provided with two radially extending pins 90and '85. Pin v85 is relatively -long,and-engages, as set forth above andclearly shown in Figure 3, the downwardly bent portion -B4-o'f theoperat'ing lever -.82 forming part of the range-finderarrangementdescribed above.

The pins 85 and "90 pass through and are guided by longitudinal slots 91provided in'the eylindrical portion l3 of the camera body l surroundingthe lens barrel i4. Thus, the lens barrel I4 is prevented from turning,but able to slide in direction of the optical axis of the camera asindicated by arrow 92.

Between the inner cylindrical surface of the cylindrical body portioni3, and the lens barrel I4, I arrange a cylindrical uiding sleeve 93provided with two helical slots 94 and 95 through which pass the pins 85and 99, respectively. This cylindrical guiding sleeve 93 is providedwith an annular slot 96 into which project the guide plates 91 securedto the camera body l0. These guide plates 91 prevent movement of thecylindrical guiding sleeve 93 in axial direction as indicated by arrow92, while permitting its turning about the optical axis of the lens.

At the front edge of the cylindrical guidingsleeve 93 described above, Iprovide a focusing lever v98. By turning of this focusing lever 98 it ispossible to turn the guiding sleeve 93. Such turning movement of theguiding sleeve 93 will be transmitted by means of the helical slots 94and pins 85 and 99 to the lens barrel l4 resulting in sliding of thesame in axial direction. During such sliding movement of the lens barrell4, the pin 85 secured thereto will operate the range finder asdescribed above.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofphotographic cameras, differing from the types described above.

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied inphotographic cameras using perforated film strips, I do not intend to belimited to the details shown, since various modifications and structuralchanges may be made without departing in any Way from the spirit of myinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofmy invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adaptit for various applications without omitting features that, from thestandpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics ofthe generic or specific aspects of this invention, and, therefore, suchadaptations should, and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a camera having a camera body in combination a partition wallwithin said camera body forming therein an exposure compartment and arange finder compartment, said partition wall having a straight slotextending parallel to the optical axis of the camera; a cylindricalguiding sleeve mounted in said exposure compartment turnable about theoptical axis of the camera but non-slidable in axial direction, saidcylindrical guiding sleeve having a helical slot; a camera lens barrelarranged within said cylindrical guiding sleeve supported by the sameand slidable in axial direction; range finder means arranged in saidrange finder compartment and including a range finder adjusting member;and an operating member secured to said camera lens barrel projectingthrough said helical slot in said guiding sleeve and said straight slotin said partition wall into said range finder compartment and engagingin said compartment said range finder adjusting member, so that turningof said cylindrical guiding sleeve about its axis will result insimultaneous adjustment of the position of said camera lens barrel inaxial direction and adjustment of said range finder means by theintermediary of the operating member mounted on said camera lens barreland engaging said range finder adjusting member while preventing turningof said camera lens barrel about its axis.

2. In a camera having a camera body in combination a partition wallwithin said camera body forming therein an exposure compartment and arange finder compartment,. said partition wall having a straight slotextending parallel to the optical axis of the camera; a cylindricalguiding sleeve mounted in said exposure compartment turnable about theoptical axis of the camera, said cylindrical guiding sleeve having ahelical slot; means on said camera body engaging said cylindricalguiding sleeve so as to prevent sliding of the same in axial direction;a camera lens barrel arranged within said cylindrical guiding sleevesupported by the same and slidable in axial direction; range findermeans arranged in said range finder compartment and including a rangefinder adjusting member; manually operable means for turning saidcylindrical guiding sleeve; and an operating pin secured to said cameralens barrel projecting through said helical slot in said guiding sleeveand said straight slot in said partition wall into said range findercompartment and engaging in said compartment said range finder adjustingmember, so that turning of said cylin drical guiding sleeve by saidmanually operable means will result in simultaneous adjustment of theposition of said camera lens barrel in axial direction and adjustment ofsaid range finder means by the intermediary of the operating membermounted on said camera lens barrel and engaging said range finderadjusting member while preventing turning of said camera lens barrelabout its axis.

3. In a camera having a camera body, in combination, a cylindricalguiding sleeve mounted in said camera body turnable about its axis butnonslidable in axial direction, said cylindrical guiding sleeve having ahelical slot therein; a camera lens barrel arranged within saidcylindrical guiding sleeve supported by the same and slidable in axialdirection; means preventing turning of said lens barrel about its axis;range finder means arranged in said camera body and including a baseplate, screw and slot means securing said base plate to said camera bodyadjustably in the plane of said base plate, a double armed fiat lever,first pivoting means pivoting said double armed flat lever to said baseplate turnably in a plane parallel to said base plate, another lever,second pivoting means pivoting said other lever to said base plateturnably in a plane parallel to said base plate in such a manner thatsaid other lever engages a lever arm of said double armed lever and isturned by the same about said second pivoting means when said doublearmed lever is turned by said operating means about said first pivotingmeans, a turnable mirror mounted on said other lever turnably togetherwith the same, and a stationary mirror mounted on said base plate spacedfrom said turnable mirror and substantially parallel to the same; and anoperating member secured to said camera lens barrel projecting throughsaid helical slot in said cylindrical guiding sleeve and engaging theother lever arm of said double armed lever, so that turning of saidcylindrical guiding sleeve about its axis will result in simultaneousadjustment of the position of said camera lens barrel in axial directionand adjustment of said range operating pin secured to optical axis ofthe camera; a cylindrical guiding sleeve mounted in said exposurecompartment turnable about the optical axis of the camera, saidcylindrical guiding sleeve having a helical slot; means on said camerabody engaging said cylindrical guiding sleeve so as to prevent slidingof the same in axial direction; a camera lens barrel arranged withinsaid cylindrical guiding sleeve supported by the same and slidable inaxial direction; range finder means arranged in said camera body andincluding a base plate, screw and slot means securing said base plate tosaid camera body adjustably in the plane of said base plate, a doublearmed flat lever, first pivoting means pivoting said double armed fiatlever to said base plate turnably in a plane parallel to said baseplate, another lever, second pivoting means pivoting said other lever tosaid base plate turnably in a plane parallel to said base plate in sucha manner that said other lever engages a lever arm of said double turnedby the same about said second pivoting means when said double armedlever is turned by said operating means about said first pivoting means,a turnable mirror mounted on said other lever turnably together with thesame, and a stationary mirror mounted on said base plate spaced fromsaid turnable mirror and substantially parallel to the same; manuallyoperable means for turning said cylindrical guiding sleeve; and an saidcamera lens barrel armed lever and is projecting through said helicalslot in said cylindrical guiding sleeve and engaging the other lever armof said double armed lever, so that turning of said cylindrical guidingsleeve by said manually operable means will result in simultaneousadjustment of the position of said camera lens barrel in axial directionand adjustment of said range finder means by the intermediary of theoperating member mounted on said camera lens barrel and engaging saidother lever arm of said double armed lever while preventing turning ofsaid camera lens barrel about its axis.

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